Mumbai boys steal the show at the Glenfiddich Bartender competition

NEW DELHI: From a tea-based whisky concoction to a coffee-whisky-combo and a cheese-and-wine creation, a bunch of innovators came forward to present their best mix ever. At the Glenfiddich's World's Most Experimental Bartender, ten collaborators showcased their creative genius, leaving little or nothing to the imagination.

Mumbai-based Prateeksh Mehra and Brijesh Vyas had the last toast as they bagged the honours at the three-hour-long, intense meet. Mehra, a photographer-turned-beer-brewer, has been dabbling in making his own cheese for over two years now. And at the Delhi gig, he and Vyas won over the jury with their delectable whisky-and-cheese offering in a very 1940s setting that spoke of jazz and all things American.

"When I started taking my own brewed beer and cheese to some Mumbai events, it was an instant hit. And this led me to look at cheese making more intently and not just keep it as a hobby," Mehra, who paired some nice, gooey cheese with the spirits, said.

For Aneesh Bhasin, the founder of Hipcask that helps one discover wines and beverages, it was a creative marriage of technology and spirits. The Mumbai-based photographer, along with his team, did not produce anything that was in liquid form.


Aneesh Bhasin with Struan Grant Ralph and Rohit Bal.

Instead, he created an Instagram-like app with similar filters inspired by the whisky brand in a week's time. However, the only hic-cup being that the app is available to those ordering a round of Glenfiddich at select places.

"In India, whisky drinking has become classy. It is now more about sophistication and a sense of the elite. A lot of younger people are curious about it and are open to spending to know more," Bhasin, says.

Brewers apart, the competition also had a host of interesting collaborators displaying their prowess. From fashion designers Gauri and Nainika Karan, and textile designer and Korra Jeans co-founder Mia Morikawa who kept the gender balance in place, to tattoo artist Sameer Patange and visual artist Avinash Kumar who gave an illustrative feel to the spirit of collaboration, literally!

The gig was judged by Glenfiddich global brand ambassador Struan Grant Ralph, fashion designer Rohit Bal and mixologist Arijit Bose.

"Great things happen when different minds, passions, viewpoints or crafts collide. We want to celebrate bartenders who are masters of their trade, yet continue to push beyond the expected by finding inspiration in the most unexpected of places," Ralph, a seasoned bartender himself, said.